OPHITES 



121 



small nasals, the anterior somewhat the larger ; loreal large, sub- 

 rectangular, forming its longest suture with prefrontal, not 

 twice as long as wide ; a large preocular 

 extending from frontal to third labial ; 

 supraocular smaller than preocular but 

 a little longer; 2 small postoculars sub- 

 equal in size. Temporals , +4; 9 



1 r2 



Fig. 11 Ophites aulicus (Lin- 

 n^us) ; after Boulenger ; a. 

 head, dorsal view ; b, head. 

 lateral view. 



upper labials, fifth, sixth, seventh, and 

 eighth largest; third, fourth, and fifth 

 labials entering eye; 10 lower labials, 

 sixth and fifth largest; mental small; 5 

 labials touch first chin shields (4 on 

 right side) ; mental small, triangular; 2 

 pairs of chin shields, first pair longest, 

 nearly equal in length to first labials; 

 scales in 17 rows, smooth, outer row 

 somewhat enlarged ; eye small, pupil 

 vertical ; head distinct from body, very 

 much flattened, with lips and temporal 

 regions swollen ; ventrals, 197 ; anal dou- 

 ble; subcaudals, 74, double; tail slender, terminating in a long, 

 sharp point. 



Colo7- in life. — Grayish slate to purplish brown above with an 

 irregular network formed by darker scales bordered with white ; 

 on neck a dim lighter band forming a broad collar; fore part 

 of head darker slate; lips and neck whitish, each scale with a 

 darker area; lower surfaces immaculate cream white. 



Variation. — But little variation occurs in this species among 

 specimens found in the various Philippine islands. The follow- 

 ing diff'erences, however, are in evidence. Specimens from the 

 Visayan islands of Masbate, Bantayan, and Negros have the tem- 

 porals 1 + 2 for the most part instead of 2 + 3, which is the 

 usual formula elsewhere. It will be noted from the table that 

 there is a tendency to a reduction in the number of labials 

 touching the anterior chin shields in Luzon specimens. The 

 range of ventrals is 194 to 210; of subcaudals, 62 to 78. These 

 counts are well within the limits set by Boulenger.''' 



One specimen in the collection from Almo/a, India, difl'ers 

 considerably. The head is rather narrow and pointed ; the pre- 

 oculars are not in contact with the frontal, which is true of 

 Phihppine specimens; the frontal is proportionally shorter, and 



* Loc. cit. 



